C11 The Business of Selling Poems!

On the night of the Mid-Autumn Festival, as the lanterns began to glow, the West Lake came alive with countless lights. Among the sights to be envied by the common folk, the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion, anchored at the heart of the lake, stood out. It was a gathering place for the elite and the beautiful, the scholars and the nobility.

The exquisite poems penned by these luminaries on this night would be known across the land by the next day, an opportunity many could only dream of to gain widespread fame.

The moon shone brightly, the stars sparse in the sky. With the reflection of the moon in the waters and a boat at the center of the lake, it was difficult to discern whether the moon hung in the heavens or floated on the lake's surface.

As the annual Mid-Autumn poetry competition commenced, the chatter of the crowd subsided, their attention drawn to a platform on the third floor. Lin Han noticed three women had appeared there: one radiating elegance, another exuding gentleness, and particularly the one on the left, whose beauty was the epitome of an angelic face paired with a devilish figure. Even having seen a natural beauty like Lau Mingzhu, Lin Han found himself momentarily captivated.

The appearance of these two beauties captured the attention of every man on the pavilion. Lin Han felt a sense of familiarity with the gentle beauty, as if he had seen her somewhere before. Yet, his concern was more for Moo Lingfei's state than for admiring the beauties.

Moo Lingfei stood there, gaping like a love-struck fool, his eyes glued to the stunningly cold beauty, as a drool-worthy line glistened at the corner of his mouth...

Lin Han's eye twitched, followed by a twitch in his cheek, and finally, his mouth joined in the involuntary dance. He wished he could shake off the embarrassment entirely, his teammate's behavior was simply beyond belief...

"This Mid-Autumn Festival, the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion is graced by the presence of such esteemed scholars and beauties. It's our honor to host this poetry meet," announced the host. "We take this grand occasion very seriously and to ensure fairness, we have invited three learned scholars to review the submissions. Once the competition begins, any masterpieces you wish to present will be evaluated by the scholars. Along with Xiaoxiao and the other judges, they will score each piece. The highest score will determine the victor..."

"I'm sure none of you would question the discernment of Yanyuan and Xiaoxiao..."

The woman standing between the two ladies may not have matched their striking beauty, but she possessed a mature allure that they lacked. Her every gesture seemed to captivate souls, and as soon as she spoke, she effortlessly drew all eyes to herself. She was undoubtedly the proprietor of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.

Her final remark, while phrased as a question, also served to promote the two women behind her. This advanced marketing tactic was impressive. Regardless of whether the two ladies truly deserved the acclaim, everyone present was inclined to show respect to the event's organizer...

Lin Han couldn't help but admire her savvy; this woman was no ordinary individual. He shifted his gaze from the middle-aged woman and gave Moo Lingfei, who was still acting foolishly, a nudge.

This prompted the chubby fellow to compose himself. Moo Lingfei, now recovering, cast a resentful and somewhat plaintive look at Lin Han.

"Have you taken a fancy to the girl on the left?"

With a knowing look, Lin Han whispered enticingly into Moo Lingfei's ear. The little fatty was already on the brink of infatuation, and Lin Han's words only intensified his feelings. But such matters are often left unspoken. When Lin Han brought it up, Moo Lingfei's face turned as red as a braised pig's trotter.

"So rest assured about the fairness of the competition," the owner of the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion declared with confidence. "The winner of the Mid-Autumn Poetry Gathering will have the privilege of spending an enchanting evening with the two beauties behind me..."

The shrewd madam knew exactly how to stimulate the crowd's eagerness. Her words, even if spoken in a regular tone, would have been enticing, but coming from her, they set the pleasure boat abuzz with excitement. Lin Han could even hear the distinct sound of people swallowing their saliva.

At that moment, Lin Han was fully focused on his grand endeavor of charming Moo Lingfei, utterly indifferent to the temptations of the other woman. After all, as delightful as a beauty may be, nothing is more practical than money.

Among them was Moo Lingfei, standing beside Lin Han. Moo Lingfei's eyes initially sparkled, then quickly dulled. To claim he had no aspirations would be dishonest, but he was merely a young master lacking literary talent. After all, writing poetry is a matter of innate ability...

"How could I... Mr. Lin, you mustn't make fun of me like that..."

Moo Lingfei gave Lin Han a wry smile, attempting to appear nonchalant as he downed the wine in his glass.

"Come on, are you a man or not? A real man knows what he wants. Is that thing you've got just for show? I'm just waiting for you to say the word. Do you want it or not?"

Lin Han was both amused and frustrated. This fellow clearly had the desire but lacked the courage. He seemed like a typical rich kid, so why was he acting so timid?

Provoked by Lin Han's words, Moo Lingfei's temper flared. No man can stand being told he's inadequate, especially after the little guy had downed a drink and was feeling a bit woozy... Suddenly, he was brimming with a boldness that was almost out of character.

"Who are you calling less of a man? I'm as manly as they come. I've given it plenty of thought, what's it to you... I've long admired Miss Yanyuan..."

Moo Lingfei's enthusiasm soared, but his voice trailed off until only Lin Han could just make out his words. Observing Moo Lingfei's sheepish demeanor, Lin Han couldn't help but feel a twinge of sympathy for the lad.

"Alright, that's the spirit... If I told you I could help you clinch first place, would you believe me?"

Lin Han raised an eyebrow and instinctively touched his nose, as though he could hear the sound of his own scruples crumbling. Nevertheless, he kept up a convincingly assured facade, baiting Moo Lingfei.

"What did you say?"

Moo Lingfei, still mortified by his earlier bravado, was slow to grasp the situation. He gazed at Lin Han, bewildered, and asked without thinking. The poor kid had no clue about the scheme Lin Han had in mind...

"I'm saying I'll write a poem under your name, secure first place... and then you can win over the lady. What's our friendship worth? Talking money might spoil it... But since I've only recently met you, Brother Moo, there aren't any feelings to damage. So let's talk cash... A flat fee of one hundred silver taels, and I guarantee you'll take first place."

Lin Han appeared to be taking Moo Lingfei's best interests to heart, giving him a warm pat on the shoulder before leaning in to whisper to the plump youngster. Moo Lingfei was so touched by Lin Han's words that he nearly embraced him in a flood of tears. However, this moment of gratitude was quickly followed by a harsh reality check from Lin Han.

The words that followed left Moo Lingfei utterly bewildered. "Talking about money hurts feelings, but since we have no feelings, let's talk about money," Lin Han declared. What kind of twisted logic was that?

The two guards sharing the table with Lin Han, seemingly protectors of Moo Lingfei, were equally stunned by Lin Han's blunt speech. Despite Lin Han's attempt to keep his voice down, the two, being skilled martial artists, heard every word clearly. This revelation was even harder for them to swallow than it was for Moo Lingfei. One guard, in the midst of drinking, spat out his wine in shock upon hearing Lin Han's statement, inadvertently spraying his companion in the face. The other, mouth agape, seemed oblivious as the wine dribbled into his mouth.

Both guards stared at Lin Han, their faces a mixture of astonishment and confusion. Being simple warriors with little education, they were at a loss for words.

"What are you staring at? A hundred taels of silver is a steal... practically a giveaway," Lin Han said with a sly grin. "Think about it. You're so eager to have her. Would you rather cherish your delicate lady yourself, or would you prefer her in the arms of another man?"

Lin Han's face shifted to one of feigned sorrow as he gently patted Moo Lingfei's shoulder, speaking with a tone of deep regret to drive his point home.

"I..."

Moo Lingfei, overwhelmed by Lin Han's graphic portrayal, felt like he was about to explode. He had completely lost his bearings; this girl wasn't his at all! Yet, in the little fatty's mind, she had become his woman, and the thought of her with another man was inconceivable.

"What 'I'... As the saying goes, 'You can't trap a wolf if you're afraid to lose the sheep, and you can't catch a scoundrel if you're unwilling to let go of your wife.' Today, you're parting with a hundred taels of silver, but what you're gaining is far greater... A hundred taels is truly a bargain... Remember, 'Life is invaluable, but love is even more precious.'"

Lin Han was energetically pitching his products, unaware that his antics had already caught the eye of some keen observers aboard the Drunken Fragrance Pavilion.

"I... I'll buy it... Is that alright?"

Moo Lingfei's eyes sparkled, then he responded with a look of mock despair. How could there be such an eccentric person in the world? Someone who would abandon all dignity just to make a buck. Yet, Lin Han's words, "Life is indeed precious, but love is even more valuable," had struck a chord with Moo Lingfei, who was still naive to the concept of love.

To him, it seemed Lin Han wasn't just spinning tales. The ease with which he recited poetry was impressive. What was this if not eloquence personified? It appeared that clinching first place wasn't out of reach after all.

"Goodness... We've finally struck a deal. Earning money in this day and age is truly no small feat..."

Lin Han wiped away the nonexistent sweat from his brow, took a couple of deep breaths, and downed a glass of wine to settle his nerves. Only then did he extend his hand towards Moo Lingfei...